The Greater Atlanta Christian Spartans, starting the progeny of two NBA players and one NFL quarterback, proved worthy of their #1 ranking Tuesday night as they dismantled the Lamar County Trojans 82-39 in the lush basketball setting that is Long Forum on the GAC campus.

It's sickening to see these Metro Atlanta Private Schools recruit all star players from the vastly populace areas surrounding them , and then be able to compete against the same classifications of AA schools from the smaller rural communities. There's just simply nothing level about that playing field.

The private schools dominate in baseball & basketball, because they can move an above average, to great, athlete into their school without limitations on districts, or boundaries. Some of their campuses look like small college campuses. Money talks... Thank you, GHSA.

You make a good point. But, we're discussing an unlevel playing field in athletics, due to not being held to district boundaries, and rich men playing 'Daddy Ball' with their kids.

Blessed Trinity's campus looks like a college campus. Money is not an object for these programs. They buy what they want... They have certified athletic trainers on their staffs, immaculate training & health & wellcare programs & facilities, job openings in the community for parents who just happen to have an above average athlete in their families who wants to attend their schools, that they can have move-in... Just some more of the political bullcrap that is the GHSA.

This scenario doesn't apply so much to the smaller private schools in the lower populated areas, as it does to these Metro Atlanta Private Schools. They should be required to play at the AAAA level, or above.

The 1.5 multiplier rule that was killed a few years ago by one of the state legislators -- Tom Murphy -- should be reinstated to level the playing field again. Go the the GHSA Website -- www.ghsa.net -- and research which programs have won state championships in baseball & basketball for the past 5 years, or so, and you will see a trend.

The Metro Atlanta private schools have dominated the Class-A & Class-AA State Championships in Baseball & Softball, Tennis, etc., etc. over those classifications which are made up primarily of schools in the smaller rural communities.

I agree that the private schools are stacked, but I do remember one of the best football games ever when Lamar beat GAC in the post-season. Any body else remember? I believe it was the 2001 season, 2nd round, it was the year we lost in the third round to Cook.

Valid point, but unfortunately, an exception to the rule. The Metro Atlanta Private Schools winning state titles in Class-A & Class-AA is a trend... And, it appears that it's gonna stay that way, because the GHSA allows it to happen...

You may, occasionally, see a smaller rural school win a Class-A, or Class-AA, Championship -- with the emphasis on the word, occasionally...

This could be one of those occasional years where a small rural school wins a state championship in Class-AA Baseball. Cook Co., in Adel, Ga., has two D-1 pitchers on their team in Kaleb Cowart & D.J. Johnson. But, this is an anomaly -- having two D-1 pitchers on a squad at a small rural school, i.e...

Programs like Blessed Trinity in Roswell move kids in from all over the U.S. to play in their athletic programs, and even house them in dorms. They can go out and scout high school teams in the 'much-ballyhooed' East Cobb Baseball Program, and recruit them to come and join their 'elite' baseball programs with resources that 99% of the Class-AA & Class-A Programs will never have...

Money talks and BS walks -- and, as long as that's the case, and our high-flying GHSA administrators allows it to happen, then nothing is going to change...

In reference to the comments about “ money talks”..... and the inference that you can buy outstanding baseball and basketball players for your A or AA schools, Maybe we should have saved some of the football field and fine arts center money to buy some players. I guess the future Splost funds must have been burning a hole in Dr. Truby's pocket!

Read much, BigDan? The reference is being made about private schools having resources that the public schools don't have... In other news, I take it that your are a nerd, and don't care for sports, or even having world class facilities in the Lamar Co. School System for that matter. You can go back from whence you came, and hibernate in your cave, now.

Dear Anonymous #8.1,
In fact I do read often, I was aware of the economy during the planning and construction of these “World class” facilities, I am also aware of the current condition of our High school facilities, I find it Ironic that people whose job it is to educate would place the financial burden of the community for the “World class” football field and the Fine arts center before a new high school. This seems equivalent to a new Escalade being parked in front of the house with broken windows.
Meanwhile I will hang out in my overtaxed cave knowing that at least I have my personal priorities straight.
P.S. No time for Hibernation, as I have to work 12 hours a day so that my tax dollars can pay for Our World Class facilities!

On a more serious note, it is simply mind-boggling at the mindset of your non-progressive intellect. The key issues that the majority of transient industrial & business prospects look at, when entertaining the idea of locating in a community are the quality of school facilities (I happen to agree with you about the need for a new high school, but patience is a virtue), the educational opportunities (see Gordon College), the taxbase & recreational opportunities.

Who wants to move to Podunk, Ga., if the people there are negative in their thinking toward progress. Kudos to Dr. Truby for having a vision, and following thru on it.

And, about the SPLOST... Anybody that spends a dime in Lamar Co., whether they reside there, or not, pays for these facilities in sales tax revenues. Do you not understand the difference? That's what I thought...

Hey Anonymous 8.1,
I think your original question was; READ MUCH?
This is a is from a community a little bigger than Podunk, GA!
MARIETTA, Ga -- A lawsuit against Cobb County schools has halted $16 million in renovations to athletic fields.

Cobb County Schools want to install Astroturf at all of their high school athletic fields, but lawyers for the man behind the suit, Walter “Pete” Borden, said spending the money on anything not related to education is illegal.

“Why is it that the installation of artificial turf in football stadiums is more important for education in this county as opposed to text books, new computers, and safer school buses?” said Trevor Hiestand, an attorney at the Harper, Waldon & Craig law firm.

Cobb County voters passed a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) in 2008 to directly benefit the schools. Spending millions for artificial turf fields at all of the high schools was on the approved list of projects.

“It is our position under current Georgia Educational Law these funds have to be designated and used for educational purposes,” said Hiestand. “I think those funds would be better served and legally spent on things like upgrading classrooms. We still have students attending classes in trailers.”

Cobb County Schools says there is nothing illegal about spending $16 million on athletic fields, even as the district is expected to announce a huge budget shortfall of about $100 million.

“In this specific case, these synthetic turf fields are used for educational purposes, everything from physical education classes to all types of activities we use the fields for day in and day out,” said spokesperson for Cobb County Schools, Jay Dillion.

Dillion said there is no way the field turf money could be put towards any other projects, including saving jobs and student needs.

“The law states very clearly that when you approve a SPLOST or sales tax referendum you have to designate which specific projects the money will be used for and you can only use it for those specific projects,” said Dillion.

Cobb County Schools had planned on buying and installing the Astroturf fields in the coming months, but now they’re stalled until a superior court judge says otherwise.

No court date has been set for a showdown between the school district and lawyers.

So, what... The fine Arts Center could not be more education related, than what it is... (Trump-1).

As far as the new football stadium, that one might be open for debate. But, in real terms, that too is education related, as it provides a venue for teams / players to perform that have been educated by competent coaches to learn the value of teamwork, discipline, character, work ethic, sacrifice, & uniformity in achieving a common goal. All of this complements what's going on in the classrooms.

"Cobb County voters passed a special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST) in 2008 to directly benefit the schools. Spending millions for artificial turf fields at all of the high schools was on the approved list of projects."

"Cobb County Schools says there is nothing illegal about spending $16 million on athletic fields, even as the district is expected to announce a huge budget shortfall of about $100 million."

“In this specific case, these synthetic turf fields are used for educational purposes, everything from physical education classes to all types of activities we use the fields for day in and day out,” said spokesperson for Cobb County Schools, Jay Dillion."

Dillion said there is no way the field turf money could be put towards any other projects, including saving jobs and student needs.

“The law states very clearly that when you approve a SPLOST or sales tax referendum you have to designate which specific projects the money will be used for and you can only use it for those specific projects,” said Dillion.

"Cobb County Schools had planned on buying and installing the Astroturf fields in the coming months, but now they’re stalled until a superior court judge says otherwise."

"Dillion said there is no way the field turf money could be put towards any other projects, including saving jobs and student needs."

“The law states very clearly that when you approve a SPLOST or sales tax referendum you have to designate which specific projects the money will be used for and you can only use it for those specific projects,” said Dillion."

Dear #10 Anonymous,
In short you should understand that I am not against the advancement of our community. You should also know that the vision for a new football field was in play way before Dr. Truby was involved here in Barnesville, as the original field was a big pain for the city. I know there was a lot of pressure on him from the Ultra quiet land swap deal.
I only wish His Vision started with a World class High school that was accented by a reasonably priced Fine Arts center and Athletic complex, I stand firm on my opinion that "we" overspent on the Fine Arts center and Athletic complex at the expense of the High school facilities, when you factor in the fact that the school board had the budget numbers to build the new high school and it was equivalent to the combined budgets of the Fine Arts and Athletic complex, that my friend is borderline negligent.
You are correct about my secondary education, I majored in math and engineering, so I apologize if I get hung up on the “Math and the details
P.S. Did you mean to repeat yourself or do you stutter?

The 'Chicken, or Egg' analogy still applies? And, now it appears that you possibly may be a 'Tech' Grad based on the info about your secondary education. If that's the case, then the defense rests, lol.

Don't stutter, but the copy & paste function -- malfunctioned... Too bad there's not an edit button on this message board -- the repetitive paragraphs from above was picked-up, after the submit button was activated...

Maybe you should run for a seat on the BOE, instead of being a Monday Morning QB. BTW - GO DAWGS!!!

#11 Anonymous
The answer is Creation!
No, not a rambling wreck but also don't hold the Dawg thing against you either, If you ever want to watch real football being played, try a Big Ten game!
Not a Monday morning QB, but would like to see moderation exercised in our BOE spending so that we can accomplish everything necessary, instead of doing a few very flamboyant things with our Community’s limited resources. By the way are we on target to collect the advanced spending of the SPLOST funds for said projects? I didn’t think so.

If you were actually in our private schools, you would know that they leave just as easily as they come. We're not out recruiting these kids, and when they're not happy, they can claim financial hardship and go to any public school they want.

Also, you might want to check your facts and she how long some of these kids have been in our private schools. When did Chaney Means (4 time all state selection for girls basketball and softball)start at GAC? 3rd grade. Her family attended the church there for many years before that. In contrast, Briana Jordan (named to girls basketball super six for Gwinnett Co. and also a standout volleyball player) had been at GAC since elementary and played along side Chaney. When she was unhappy, she picked up and transferred to Norcross. She got her hardship and jumped right in playing there. Don't lump every private school in with your accusations.

Honestly, sometimes kids do come to us in high school, but they have hard time receiving a hardship transfer. Also, maybe if public schools weren't so filled with behaviors that go unchecked, then families wouldn't be looking to get their kids out.

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